Echeveria & Graptoveria (ek-uh-VAIR-ee-uh) / (grapt-o-VAIR-ee-uh)
Crassulaceae
Relatives: Relatives: Crassula, Kalanchoe, Sempervivum, Cotyledon
Echeveria is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae and is native to semi-desert areas of Central America, Mexico and northwestern South America. Plants may be evergreen or deciduous. Flowers on short stalks (cymes) arise from compact rosettes of succulent fleshy, often brightly colored leaves. Species are Polcarpic - meaning that they may flower and set seed many times over the course of their lifetimes. Often numerous offsets are produced, and are commonly known as "Hen and Chicks", which can also refer to other genera, such as Sempervivum that are significantly different from Echeveria. Many species of Echeveria serve important environmental roles, such as host plants for certain butterflies. Echeveria is named for Atanasio Echeverria y Godoy, a botanical illustrator who contributed to Flora Mexicana.
Graptoveria is a hybrid cross that originated from a combination of Echeveria and Graptopetalum succulent plants. Most exhibit a compact rosette 6 to 8 inches. A soft succulent, Graptoveria plant info says these beauties won’t tolerate frost. Bring them indoors when temperatures begin to drop in autumn. Provide sunlight through well-lit windows or install a grow light system for your plants.